ARA Halcon (DDL-1924 (1938-mod))
In 1920 the Argentine Navy purchased the two uncompleted destroyer leaders of the V-116 class from the Allied War Reparations Commitee. They were to be completed at the yards they were being built at. The ships original main armament of 4x5.9" each ship had failed to be delivered and the ships were fitted with 4 open 4.1" mounts that were available.
Shields were fitted to the 4.1" guns in 1929-30 and two small rengefinders were also fitted during this period.
The ships were used as the port and starbord escort leaders to the battlefleets escorting destroyers. The ships were always to be modernised but had to await their turn as the battleships and cruisers had priority on refit funds. It was not till 1936 that the two ships sailed for Germany for rebuilding. The last 10+ years of service had been arduous duty as the Argentinian Navy raised its training and wargames to new levels.
A large number of changes were made to the ships during their refit in the way of armament and fire control systems. An upgraded HA/LA director was fitted to the back of the bridge superstructure. A new main armament of single 5.1" dual purpose guns in turrets were fitted which improved the gun handling in the angry South Atlantic Ocean. Two single 37mm were fitted next to the fore funnel while single and quad 20mm were fitted next to the bridge, after funnel and a bandstand in front of the aft superstructure. The twin torpedo tubes were replaced with the latest triple sets.
| Displacement | 2,400 tons std, 3,100 tons full load |
| Length | 352.5 ft |
| Breadth | 34 ft |
| Draught | 13 ft |
| Machinery | 2 shaft Steam Turbines 56,000shp |
| Speed | 37 knots |
| Range | 3400 miles at 15 knots |
| Armour | nil |
| Armament | 4 x 4.1" (4x1) 4 x 5.1" (4x1) as rebuilt 2 x 37mm (2x1) 8 x 20mm (1x4 4x1) |
| Aircraft | nil |
| Torpedoes | 6 x 21" (2x3) |
| Complement | 370 |
| Notes | ARA Halcon (ex-V117) ARA Condor (ex-V118) |
As completed with single 4.1" open mount guns.